Stress: causes, types and prevention

05.08.2017

Snezhana Ivanova

All people are affected by stress. Nervous stress, various surprises at work and in the family lead to depletion of moral and physical strength.

Stress is an integral part of modern life. Many people would like to completely avoid it, but in most cases this cannot be done. Nervous stress, various surprises at work and in the family lead to depletion of moral and physical strength. All people are affected by stress, its symptoms are known to everyone.

Stress symptoms

It is important for everyone to know the symptoms of stress. Life sometimes presents us with such surprises that it remains only to be surprised at how in an unknown way everything is developing. By what manifestations can one understand that a person is experiencing severe nervous tension? What are the prominent symptoms of stress? Let's try to figure it out.

Sleep disturbance

A person under stress often suffers from insomnia. Sleep disturbances are associated with overexcitation nervous system... Such a load is fraught with consequences. Often there is a situation where a person wants to sleep and cannot do it. He fails to achieve complete relaxation. Thoughts are layered on top of each other, make it difficult to adequately perceive the events that are taking place. A stressed person cannot enjoy the pleasure of rest. He only does what he fights with invisible enemies and constantly expects the worst result of all possible. Everyone has their own causes of stress. Most people have similar symptoms. The first thing that begins to be noticed is that it leaves peace of mind, a person loses support under his feet. Moreover, in most cases, people strive to endure any emotional turmoil. Few people manage to avoid stress in Everyday life, however, it must and can be dealt with.

Physical weakness

Under stress, physical weakness is always observed, this is its characteristic symptom. It's all about the hormone adrenaline, which begins to be produced in large quantities under stress. Physical weakness is the result of nervous strain. Sometimes there is a characteristic muscle pain. You should not be afraid of this state - it will pass in a few hours. After stress, it is best to sleep, mentally disconnect from what is happening. You cannot force yourself and force yourself to do something, only if it is not required by extraordinary circumstances. Physical weakness is a completely natural response to extreme fatigue and stress.

Sense of anxiety

Another characteristic symptom that simply cannot be overlooked. Stress eats away at the body's inner strength, leaving frustration and fear inside. The feeling of anxiety does not leave those people who are under stress. This symptom indicates that it is time to take some effective action, and not just endlessly suffer. Anxiety, irritability, reluctance to act is associated with a breakdown. It is undesirable to leave a person alone in such a state, whatever the reasons for the disorder. The best medicine is to talk to a loved one or a supportive friend. Other symptoms of stress are associated with the inability to relax, to make the right decision.

Any nervous shock does not occur on empty space... Nothing just happens. For the formation and development of stress, very serious reasons are needed. They usually indicate what a person needs to change in his life. Anyone who is attentive to their own condition and does not want to aggravate it should engage in stress prevention. Let's take a closer look at the causes of stress.

Job change

Very often, a change in the usual environment leads to the development of stress. it common reason the formation of stress. A person needs to get used to a new environment. At first, everyone experiences a certain nervous tension, self-doubt. The feeling of anxiety and some danger may not leave for several days or even weeks. And this is a completely normal reaction of a healthy body to stress. Changing activities is a serious step that should not be taken spontaneously, under the influence of emotions. This reason is quite enough to start experiencing not very pleasant emotions. In most cases, people are terrified of being fired and do their best to avoid this event, because they believe that finding a good job is difficult and impossible to do it quickly.

Parting with a loved one

This is a serious reason, which can lead not only to the development of stress, but to act as a serious reason for the formation of a nervous breakdown. A person is not omnipotent, he cannot constantly experience negative emotions and at the same time not have any significant consequences. Parting with a loved one is something that can overturn the system of internal beliefs, break the strong mental organization of the personality. This is because people have a deep need to care for someone close to them. If you deprive a person of such an opportunity, he will feel unnecessary and frustrated. Prevention and treatment of stress arising from personal relationships is impossible without the personality's awareness of their future prospects. Still, a lot is required to rethink and understand in order to change the attitude towards the situation.

Unmet needs

Sometimes stress is formed on the basis of unmet needs. They can be both physical and psychological. What can be attributed to this item? For example, unfulfilled dreams of personal happiness, unrequited love. Difficulties at work, coupled with the need to prove yourself, to prove your worth, also lead to stress. An unmet need for love and recognition is a common cause of stress. If people analyzed all the reasons that can only lead to nervous overstrain, then it would be impossible to describe them all. There are many reasons for stress. If a person does not take care of himself, then very soon he will earn himself a nervous breakdown.

In psychological science, it is customary to distinguish several stages in the development of stress. These stages characterize the state of mind of a person, the ability to resist any negative factors. The stages of the onset of stress can be compared to the steps along which a person moves through the labyrinths of their emotions.

Mild degree

The very first stage is characterized by the appearance of slight fatigue, impressionability, sensitivity. A person suddenly begins to think about his life, he is afraid to take active steps in order to correct an unsatisfactory situation. The easy stage does not bring much suffering. It only shows that something is wrong with the person: he is tired, nervous, lost his chosen path. But if you do not make attempts to get rid of nervous tension, anxiety and doubts will only grow.

Average degree

The second stage, which is characterized by a rapid increase in the level of anxiety. At this stage, it becomes more difficult to resist the onslaught of stress. The second stage assumes that a person begins to immerse himself in his own experiences, although he continues to actively seek a way out of a predicament. While in the middle stage, there is still a lot that can be fixed without too much damage to health. The only sad thing is that people sometimes think very little about how much they harm themselves. You cannot treat stress without any attention, it is fraught with irreversible consequences.

Severe degree

Unfortunately, stress develops and progresses very quickly. If the situation has gone too far, you have to reap the bitter fruits. The third stage of stress is characterized by severe depression, unwillingness to make any attempts to restore mental balance. A person stops believing that someone can help him. This condition is already called anxiety disorders and has a strong impact on the perception of reality. Such a person is unable to perceive joy, he needs serious treatment. The third stage in the development of stress requires increased attention.

Types of stress

In psychological science, there are two main types of stress. These types are fundamentally different from each other and make it possible to judge how productively a person is working on himself. Knowing the types of nervous tension, you can try to analyze your own state and come to certain conclusions.

Eustress

This is a type of nervous tension in which there is a strong concentration of attention on an object or phenomenon. In this case, experiences are even beneficial.: a person in a short time mobilizes all his inner forces in order to get out of a difficult situation, to achieve a certain result. This kind of shock contributes to better understanding their own intentions, looking for a way out. A person begins to realize what he really should strive for, and what it is better to completely abandon.

Distress

This kind of nervous tension cannot be beneficial. It is a type of nervous disorder in which a person suffers greatly. Basically, distress is a type of stress that is primarily distinctive feature which is prolonged emotional arousal. With such a disorder, of course, a person cannot fully develop, feel happy. In this case, the voltage increases several times, cannot be compared with any types emotional disturbances... Distress is not just a kind of disharmony within the personality, but a serious disorder that needs timely treatment.

Treatment and prevention of stress

Any emotional deviations should be examined without fail. It is better to prevent them than to try to fix something later. A specialist, and not a lover of intimate conversations, must prescribe competent treatment. Qualified psychologists are engaged in stress prevention. What are the main principles of treatment and prevention? Let's try to figure it out!

Improve sleep

There is an easier route to take before you start swallowing sedatives. You need to start monitoring the quality of your vacation. Very often, people significantly neglect sleep, sacrificing it for some urgent matters. This should not be done. For a person, sleep is extremely important. The correct daily regimen will be an excellent prevention of stress and will help in treatment if the problem has already appeared. It is better not to delay the treatment if the person really needs it.

Physical activity

Many modern people for some reason, physical activity is largely neglected. it big mistake, which can lead to irreparable consequences. Stress treatment and prevention is based on constant movement. A person should be aware that he needs to do gymnastics or exercises at least once a day. It's best to do some specific type sports. This is an excellent treatment that helps even in advanced cases. In itself, the treatment of a nervous disorder requires the individual to take full responsibility for what is happening. You need to try to move as much as possible, then later you will not have to resort to treatment with potent drugs.

Meditation

This method is good because it allows you to get rid of any manifestations of trouble in the mental state of a person. It is advisable to begin treatment of stress with a deep understanding of the current events. The stronger a person develops the skill of managing his own inner self, the faster he can cope with any problem.

Thus, in order to get rid of nervous tension, you need to try to find peace of mind as soon as possible. It is better to prevent a severe emotional disorder in time than to resort to its treatment later.

For many, only negative associations are associated with the word "stress". In fact, there are two types of stress:

Beneficial stresses, or eustress. For a fulfilling life, everyone needs a small dose of beneficial stress - without this, our body would have had a hard time. For example, to get out of bed in the morning and go to work, you need to be fully awake. And in order to work productively and with pleasure, a person needs an awakening reaction, or eustress (a small dose of adrenaline). Let's call this state the “awakening response”.

Harmful stress, or distress, occurs when tension reaches a critical point, when there is no more strength to fight it. For example, if the lack of sleep is already chronic. Exactly this emotional condition we mean when we say we are "under stress."

The main types of harmful stress (distress):

• psychological or emotional stress

Psychological stress, as a rule, appears in situations associated with the experience of strong emotions. Any situation that outwardly does not pose a threat to a person, but causes strong emotions, becomes a cause of psychological stress. Moreover, it does not matter whether positive or negative emotions are the reason - the body reacts to a deviation from the norm in "plus" or "minus" in the same way.

This also includes stress that has no real causes, i.e. fantasized by the person himself. Moreover, no matter how illusory the reasons are, the stress itself in such cases is absolutely real and from the point of view of the body and all the consequences is no different from the stress caused by real reasons. Moreover, the vast majority of stress is caused in one way or another by fictitious reasons.

• physiological stress

Physiological stresses arise from exposure to humans external factors such as cold, heat, pain, thirst, hunger, etc. Highly case example- the body's response to diets. When a person goes on a diet, he thereby deliberately limits himself to one or another habitual food or its quantity. The body reacts to the restriction of nutrition in the only possible way for itself - stress, since it tries to adapt to new conditions. The same happens when a person decides that he has been on a diet long enough and returns to his previous regime and diet, since the body is forced to adapt again, and this is possible only through stress.

• short-term stress

Short-term stress is the most natural stress - it is closely related to instincts, for example, reaction to a sharp sound, sudden movement. This type of stress is characterized by suddenness and rapid passage of all stages of stress. As a rule, the effect of such stress is very short and does not pose any danger.

• chronic stress

Chronic stress is the most dangerous species stress. Many people confuse it with PTSD or PTSD. Chronic stress is such stress that you are constantly exposed to, which goes with you in the background through life and you are so used to it that you don't seem to notice. For example, you are permanently annoyed by something, some kind of situation in life in which you are and from which, as it seems to you, you cannot get away. Chronic stress is dangerous because it often leads to nervous breakdowns, depression and suicide. Chronic stress is also closely related to fears and phobias.

• nervous stress

Basically, this name is a kind of compilation of everyday ideas of the level "all diseases from the nerves" and "stress is harmful". The dangers of stress are described in detail in this article. And all diseases are really from the nerves, if only because the nervous system plays an important role in the emergence, course and cure of any disease (it does not matter - somatic or mental). You can read more about how diseases are related to the human psyche.

Stress (distress) symptoms:

• Frequent illnesses, weakening of the body's immune system
• Sexual dysfunction
• Headaches, stomach pains, peptic ulcers
• Worsening sleep
• Loss of appetite, or vice versa, excessive gluttony
• Changing food preferences: if earlier, for example, you didn't want a lot of spicy or sweet things, then in a state of stress, on the contrary, you want a lot.
• Increased excitability: more often you want to be irritated, angry, angry, laughing for no reason.

Psychology of stress

Stress primarily affects a person's psychology and behavior. Most often, the behavior changes as follows:

• the person becomes very irritable
• responds inadequately to the slightest difficulty
• become less active, as a result of which he does not have time to do what he planned
• the number of successfully completed cases decreases
• a person has a frequent desire to argue
• he becomes overly critical of things that previously suited him well
• a person has a need for alcohol, or other substitutes, to increase self-confidence
• he is in a state of constant depression and self-pity
• a person loses control over the situation: he cannot cope with many problems that require a simultaneous and immediate solution
• a person often experiences undesirable body reactions such as: rapid heartbeat, upset stomach, sweating, fever, and skin rashes
• a person is inclined to explain these manifestations simply by the complication of life, considers it impossible to control a changeable situation and does not even try to do this.

The idea of ​​coping with stress yourself is as "successful" as cutting yourself in front of the mirror. To remove not only the symptoms of stress, but also to strengthen the nervous system and increase the stress resistance of the body as a whole, it is better to work with a professional. A psychologist is just as necessary a specialist now as a hairdresser or a fitness trainer, and taking care of your state of mind is even more important - a new hairstyle will return the shine in your eyes before the first shampooing. Anyone who wants to improve the quality of their life, I invite you to a free consultation. Recording by link.

Ksenia Golitsyna,
Practicing psychologist
2012y

Stress is one of the protective mechanisms that ensure the normal functioning of the body. V this process complex neurohumoral and metabolic processes are involved, the body uses reserve substances. After the experience, their immediate replenishment and physical recovery are required, otherwise pathological conditions... A person needs to independently control the level of internal stress and take timely measures for treatment and recovery. Long-term stress, which has turned into a chronic form, exhausts a person and often leads to personality disorders.

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What is stress?

The concept of stress is the manifestation of a non-specific response of the body to any stimulus. It promotes the production of endogenous adrenaline, which increases resilience and activates a person's potential strengths. Stress accompanies conditions such as anxiety, agitation, and tension. They are dangerous because they lead to the development of anxiety disorders. But in small quantities, they are even useful for the individual, have a stimulating effect. Normally, a person is aimed at overcoming the problem, but in the case of chronic stress, when the body is depleted, he does not always succeed. At this point, anxiety and tension reach their peak and can lead to irreversible consequences.

The definition of stress in psychology differs from everyday understanding. It is almost always accompanied by anxiety, when emotions such as nervousness and concern for the result come to the fore. Together, they help the body to cope with any problem as quickly and efficiently as possible, fast brain activity is activated and sometimes a person himself does not realize how he managed to do something. Psychologists have established a pattern that the higher the nonspecific reaction, the more unpredictable and lightning-fast the decision on the part of a person turns out to be.

Regular anxiety conditions lead to persistent personality disorder, panic attacks and obsessive compulsions. The development of pathology can be prevented only with the help of timely and competent treatment.

Views

Many psychotherapists believe that stress reactions in moderation contribute to the growth and development of the personality, due to its exit from the comfort zone. Thanks to them, self-knowledge and improvement of external and internal qualities occurs. But this positive effect largely depends on the type and severity of stress.

Classification by provoking factor:

• distress - occurs as a result negative impact, takes a person out of the usual rhythm of life for a long time, adverse consequences may develop, especially if something irreversible has happened;
• eustress - the body's response to a positive effect, is not dangerous and does not entail pronounced changes.

By the type of impact, the following types of stress are distinguished:

• mental;
• food;
• temperature;
• light, etc.

The mechanism of action is distinguished:

• mental stress, in which only the emotional sphere is excited and the response occurs from the nervous system;
• biological, in which there is real threat the state of human health, injuries and diseases appear.

The level of stress depends a lot on the scale of the problem. Some are temporary in nature, and a person subconsciously understands that they do not pose a serious threat to life, like a session with students or a cold. Others are global in nature, when a person does not understand what the outcome will be. The latter include an earthquake, an armed attack and other circumstances that threaten cardiac changes in life or its loss.



Stages

There are three interrelated stages of stress, which smoothly pass into one another, and it is impossible to resist this process:

1. 1. At the moment of the onset of stress, a person for a certain period of time completely loses control and orientation in space. A sharp change of mood occurs, behavior that is not characteristic of the individual is manifested. The body stops resisting. Kindness gives way to bitterness and aggression, and hot temper turns into isolation and detachment.
2. 2. After the experienced shock state, when a certain irritation has occurred, a response is formed in the form of a stress reaction. In order to rationally use reserve forces, a person needs to take a sober look at the situation. To do this, on a subconscious level, he calms down and adapts to what happened. Resistance begins to show.
3. 3. An answer is given to the stimulus, the person finds a solution to the problem, and the recovery period begins. If the acting factor has not stopped its influence, then the stress does not recede. Chronization of the process occurs, and the body is exposed to emotional and physical exhaustion.

The third stage is of fundamental importance for a specialist. The tactics of treatment fundamentally depend on how long the patient has been experiencing an alarming shock. There is a direct relationship: the more a person is under the influence of an irritating factor, the greater the amount of help needed.



Causes of occurrence

The body's response in the form of stress appears not only to negative factors of influence, but also to positive stressors, which also portend change. Many psychotherapists believe that stress responses in moderation contribute to the growth and development of the personality and its exit from the comfort zone. Thanks to them, self-knowledge and improvement of external and internal qualities occurs.

The main causes of distress are all negative situations that arise in a person during his life. Everyone has their own value system and can experience different level shocks from the same situation, but no one is indifferent.

For example, pregnancy is the result of biological eustress. On the one hand, the woman has been waiting for the onset of this state for a long time and is incredibly happy to feel life inside herself. On the other hand, the body undergoes certain changes that are temporary, but cause a lot of trouble and discomfort. The presence of a pronounced toxicosis in the first months speaks of opposition. Due to the suppression of immunity, there is no rejection of the fetus. Immune reactions, change in hormonal levels, use of accumulated nutrients and many more constitute a complex stress response. At the end of pregnancy, a woman begins to experience real health difficulties, which subsequently transform into postpartum depression and require specialized treatment.

Signs

The symptomatic picture of various diseases that have a similar manifestation led the famous researcher Hans Selye to certain reflections that marked the beginning of his life's work - the doctrine of stress. At the moment of complete exhaustion, not a single system remains that has not received a blow. Conventionally, all symptoms can be divided into physiological and mental. The former reflect the effect of stress on the body. These include severe weight loss, decreased appetite, changes in the work of the heart, VSD (vegetative-vascular dystonia), fatigue, etc.

Mental signs include: internal tension, urinary incontinence, anxiety, depression, apathy, bad mood, isolation, detachment. The initial state of the human nervous system determines how pronounced the response of the body and its non-specific reaction will be. Emotionally weak individuals are prone to seek solutions to problems on the side or with the help of psychotropic substances. They are the ones who usually have addiction to drugs and alcohol. Strong individuals find it easier to resist stress.

In psychotherapy, the cognitive, physical, behavioral and emotional symptoms of a stressful state are distinguished. They are relative, because some can manifest themselves in a person's behavior without a provoking factor, since they are the norm for a person and are laid down by a psychotype. A psychotherapist will help to identify the true symptoms of stress in the early stages of its manifestation; in advanced cases, when a person loses control over himself, they can be seen even by a non-specialist.

Cognitive symptoms:

• memory deteriorates;
• the ability to self-organize is lost;
• indecision, doubtfulness appears;
• pessimism and mood swings are observed;
• anxiety, concern increases;
• sleep disturbance is possible, up to insomnia.

Emotional symptoms:

• a person becomes moody and demanding;
• irritability increases;
• panic attacks are possible;
• there is a tendency to depression;
• thoughts of suicide appear;
• there is a feeling of loneliness and uselessness;
• there is a hostile attitude towards everyone;
• aggression is more often manifested;
• possible dissatisfaction with the present state;
• there is a depression of the psycho-emotional background.

Physical symptoms:

• dizziness and headache;
• indigestion;
• upset stool;
• partial loss of reflexes;
• nausea and vomiting;
• breathing disorders;
• muscle and nerve spasms;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• increased sweating;
• dry mouth, feeling thirsty;
• fatigue.

Behavioral symptoms:

• isolation;
• detachment;
• abandonment of the main activity;
• addiction to alcohol or drugs;
• changing attitudes towards others;
• change of views on life;
• change of world view;
• suspicion and distrust of others.

Depending on the number of listed symptoms, the severity of the condition is recognized. After interviewing, observation and visual examination, the specialist makes a diagnosis and determines the amount of assistance needed. In severe clinical situations, hospitalization in a 24-hour hospital and constant monitoring by a specialist is required.

Treatment

It is permissible to start treating stress at home, especially if the patient correctly perceives his condition and is ready to resist all negative changes. The first thing to look out for is the emotional state. Soothing teas, sedatives can help reduce anxiety, massage can be done, physiotherapy helps. It is important to prevent the impact of a provoking factor. The earlier the recovery period begins, the faster the healing process proceeds.

For recovery and further readiness to face new stress, you should think about your overall health. It depends on the lifestyle. Healthy sleep, observance of the regime of work and rest, rational and balanced nutrition, moderate physical activity and regular reception vitamin complexes will strengthen health and replenish the spent useful material... This cannot be neglected, because an exhausted body is not able to continue adequate and full-fledged life activity.

The long absence of positive dynamics against the background of self-treatment suggests the need to contact a psychotherapist. He may recommend one-to-one coaching or suggest group sessions that are very effective in dealing with anxiety disorder. The advantage of this approach to treatment is the ability to learn to cope with stress with minimal consequences for oneself and to carry out preventive measures on a regular basis.

How stress is formed: stages Stress is the response of a person's psyche to the strong emotions he experiences, which can be both negative and positive.

How stress is formed: stages

05.03.2018

Pozharsky I.

Stress is the response of a person's psyche to strong emotions experienced by him, which can be both negative and positive, [...]

Stress is the response of a person's psyche to the strong emotions he experiences, which can be both negative and positive, as well as overvoltage associated with them. It is believed that stress to a small extent should be present in the life of any person, because at the moment of stress, adrenaline is produced, which is needed in order to solve the problem. This gives you the opportunity to move forward and improve.

But if there is too much stress, a person begins to become excessively tired, lose strength and the ability to find solutions to everyday problems. The accumulated stress translates into chronic stress, dangerous in that it provokes various disorders of systems and organs that undermine health.

Stress can be equally affected by both men and women, of any age, ethnicity, social status and financial capabilities.

Causes of stress

The reasons why stress appears can be both internal and external. The first are acute or chronic diseases that weaken the body, and external ones are the loss of something or someone significant, in particular, death loved one, job loss, change of residence, etc. The reason severe stress there may be chronic nervous tension that accumulates as a result of unresolved conflicts with loved ones or work colleagues.

The causes of stress that children can suffer from are:

• too large teaching loads;
• conflicts with relatives or the absence of a loved one who could listen to them and understand;
• the need to engage in a hobby imposed by parents;
• change of residence or educational institution;
• problems communicating with peers;
• climate change;
• movies or computer games in which they show explicit scenes;
• loss of a pet;
• being in a hospital, sanatorium without the presence of parents;
• poor psychological family environment.

In fact, any event that happens to a person can be stressful for him. But the reaction of each individual person to them is strictly subjective and depends on the strength of his nervous system. For some people, psycho-emotional shocks can cause the formation of severe psychosomatic pathologies, while for others they will go unnoticed or become a good incentive for self-improvement.

To a large extent, resistance to stress depends on the stability of the human psyche to the action of unfavorable circumstances on it, which, in turn, depends on the type of the nervous system (its belonging to a strong or weak, balanced or unbalanced type) and the totality of everyday experience that helps to resist stress ...

The likelihood of stress is much higher for those who:

• exhausted after exhausting work or after illness;
• does not feel the support of loved ones;
• overstepped the milestone of 50 years;
• not morally ready for this situation;
• has mental illness.

In such people, stress develops faster and manifests itself in more intense symptoms, which means that it requires compulsory treatment.

How stress is formed

Under stress, the nervous, hormonal and cardiovascular systems are simultaneously involved. Stress is a difficult test for the body and it negatively affects health (immunity decreases, chronic diseases appear, depression develops).

On a physical level, the effects of stress are as follows. After the effect on the human psyche of psycho-traumatic factors, the strength of which exceeds the internal resources available to the body (the so-called stress resistance), the following reactions begin to develop:

• the adrenal cortex produces cortisol;
• their inner layer releases 2 hormones norepinephrine and adrenaline into the bloodstream;
• there is damage to the mucous membranes of the stomach, as well as the duodenum, ulcers appear on them;
• the glucose level increases, and this leads to a decrease in the susceptibility of tissues to insulin, which, in turn, becomes the cause of the development of type 2 diabetes;
• sodium retention occurs, and, accordingly, fluid in the tissues, and potassium, which is needed for the normal functioning of the nervous and cardiac tissue, on the contrary, is excreted faster;
• there is a decay of cells in which glucose is formed;
• the content of lipids in the tissue that makes up the subcutaneous tissue increases;
• the rhythm and frequency of the heartbeat is disturbed;
• pressure rises.

As a result of such disorders caused by stress, human health suffers, immunity decreases, and various functional disorders develop. internal organs... These are the negative consequences of powerful stress, which does not go unnoticed for the body.

Types of stress

The term stress is the physiological response of the body, when the influence of external factors on the psyche activates the adrenal glands. Stress can equally arise from the influence of negative factors (in this case, this type of stress is called distress) and from the influence of positive ones (the name of this type is eustress). Positive emotions no matter how strong they are, they do not have a negative impact on human health, which cannot be said about negative ones. It is they who become the cause of all kinds of mental and physical health disorders.

According to the "origin" of stress caused by negative emotions, it can be psychological or neuropsychic. This separate type, in turn, is usually divided into 2 more types: psychoemotional stress, developing on the basis of anger, strong resentment or hatred, and informational stress, arising from an overabundance of various kinds of information. This view stress in most cases is present in those whose occupation is associated with processing a huge amount of information. There is also physical stress, which is usually divided into 4 types:

• light stress that appears in a person due to a forced prolonged stay in a lighted place, for example, in the north (polar days);
• painful developing after severe injury or damage;
• food- a consequence of starvation or, conversely, eating food that a person does not like;
• temperature, formed with prolonged exposure to low or high temperatures.

Another type of negative stress is the result of a person being in extreme situations (floods, hostilities, disasters, hurricanes, etc.). This type is caused by strong feelings for your life or the life of loved ones. It is so powerful that it often leaves an imprint on all the remaining years of a person.

Stages of stress

Stress is thought to go through 3 stages. The speed of their development and change depends on the force with which stress acts on the human mental sphere and in what state it is. The stages include:

• Anxious stage. When it comes, a person cannot control his thoughts and actions, his behavior changes in the opposite direction and becomes extremely different from what it was before.
• Resistant stage. At this stage, the body's vital resources are accumulated and mobilized to combat stress. This is necessary so that a person can find correct solution and take the necessary measures to get out of this situation.
• Exhaustion stage. This stage replaces the previous one and develops as a result of prolonged stress, due to the fact that the body is no longer able to withstand the load. It is at this stage that damage to the visceral organs occurs.

For more modern classification note 4 stages of stress:

• Mobilization or strengthening of attention and motor activity of a person. At this stage, the internal forces of a person are spent carefully, and if the process stops during this period, then stress does not damage the body, but hardens it.
• The emergence of strong negative emotions: rage, anger and aggression that the body needs in order to achieve its goal.
• The emergence of negative emotions of a passive type... They arise due to the wasteful waste of energy by the body at the previous stage, which greatly depletes the body. The person becomes apathetic, no longer hopes for own strength on the possibility of getting out of this situation. Depression can result from a pessimistic mood.
• The last stage is absolute demoralization. This stage occurs when the stress factor affects the human psyche constantly and does not reduce its intensity. The patient comes to terms with the fact that nothing can be done, becomes indifferent and does not want to solve any problems. May refuse treatment.

The last stage can last for a long time and become the cause of the complete decline of the psychophysical capabilities of the organism.

Stress symptoms

Symptoms of acute stress appear only a short time after the occurrence stressful situation... NS then such symptoms as clouding of consciousness, disorientation in current events. Due to these difficult conditions, a person can do unusual and stupid things that to outside observers will seem too inadequate.

Delusional ideas, self-talk Is another symptom of acute stress. But it does not last long and ends as abruptly as it began. A person, being in acute stress, may not understand what is being said to him. He may fall into a stupor and not be ready to fulfill even the simplest request or make it wrong.

Restraint in speech and movement is also a symptom of acute stress. This condition can be so severe that the patient simply freezes in the same position and almost does not react. Sometimes the opposite reaction is also possible: a person becomes fussy, talks a lot. He may be tempted to harm himself or take flight.

Symptoms of acute stress can also be reddened or pale skin, dilated pupils, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and a sharp drop in blood pressure. If the above symptoms are noted for more than 1-2 days, then you need to urgently come to the doctor's office to establish the true cause of stress and prescribe appropriate treatment.

Even after the moment the acute stress has passed, the stress and memories of it can bother a person for some time. His sleep, appetite may be disturbed, the desire to do something may disappear for a long time. He can live and work, as they say, “automatically”.

Treatment and prevention of stress

We must not forget that the consequences of stress can be both insignificant and serious, because the sooner a person receives qualified treatment, the sooner he will return to his old life.

Treatment of any type of stress, as well as its prevention, can be carried out using the following methods:

• psychological treatment (rational therapy, meditation, auto-training);
• physical treatment (exercise and massage);
• physiological treatment ( water treatments, sauna, hardening);
• biochemical treatment (medicines, herbs).

Which treatment will be chosen depends on the individual and the severity of their condition.

Stress prevention is well known - it is a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, moderate physical and mental stress, good sleep, Fresh air... Refusal from bad habits is also considered a good stress prevention.

Traveling, meeting friends, and attending cultural events is another way to prevent stress. They will help you quickly relieve fatigue and recharge. vitality... Your favorite hobby, the activity of which gives pleasure, can also be called an excellent prevention of stress. But most better prevention stressful states are cheerfulness, an optimistic attitude towards life, a positive attitude, as well as the ability to relax, release negative emotions and accumulate positive emotions.

If stress often occurs in your life, and you do not know how to get rid of them on your own, contact the center of psychology of Irakli Pozharsky. He will consult and pick up the most the best way treatment.

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A crisis

The main symptoms are:

Every person faces stress in his life, because this is a state of the body that arises when a person is exposed to certain negative, or even positive factors leading to various kinds of changes in their lives. During this disorder, the body produces adrenaline, which is necessary in order to overcome the problem that has arisen, so a small amount of stress is required for our body - they allow us to move forward and improve ourselves. However, a long-term negative impact becomes the cause of the development various violations in the body and can even cause chronic stress, which is dangerous for its side effects.

As mentioned above, such a disorder can arise both from excessive exposure to negative factors, in which case it is called distress, and from the influence of positive factors - in this case, eustress develops. At its core, any event in life can be a stressful factor. However, the reaction of each person is individual and depends on his nervous system. For some people, psycho-emotional stress can cause the development of serious psychosomatic disorders in the body, while for others it will pass without a trace, becoming only an incentive to improve oneself and one's life.

Classification

Exists different types stress. As mentioned above, distress and eustress are distinguished by nature. The positive form usually does not have a negative effect on the health and mental sphere of a person, while the negative one can knock a person out of the saddle for a long time and leave behind non-healing wounds.

Also, the types of stress differ in the nature of the impact of certain factors, and can be:

• temperature;
• neuropsychic (the most common type);
• food;
• light, as well as caused by other irritants.

In addition, stress types such as those arising from extreme social conditions or developed as a result of critical psychological events. The first type includes disorders that arise as a result of hostilities, natural disasters, attacks by bandits, etc. The second type includes those disorders that arise as a result of various social problems, for example, passing an exam, divorce, death of a relative, etc. etc.

It is also worth highlighting the following types of stress - psychological and biological. Psychological disorder or psychoemotional stress arises from the reaction of the human nervous system to a real or imaginary negative factor. Biological disturbance arises against the background of a real threat. Therefore, the main criterion for determining the type of disorder is the question: “Does this or that effect real harm the body? " If the answer is "yes", then it is a biological disorder, if "no" - psychoemotional. Knowing these varieties allows you to understand how to relieve stress and prevent its adverse effects on human health.

Also distinguish between post-traumatic stress, that is, a disorder that develops after trauma or critical events experienced. Stress urinary incontinence is one of the common symptoms of this pathological disorder. Stress urinary incontinence is especially common in children after severe events.

The main stages of stress

There are three stages of stress, which are characterized by periods of arousal and inhibition. In each person, they are expressed to one degree or another, which depends, firstly, on the source of the disorder, and, secondly, on the state of the human nervous system.

The three stages of stress are interconnected, that is, with the development of the first, the second and third will necessarily follow. During the onset of exposure, the body responds to it. This can happen within a few seconds or a few weeks after the incident - it all depends on the state of the nervous system of each particular individual.

In the first stage stress, the individual loses the ability to control his actions and thoughts, the body's resistance decreases and the behavior changes to the exact opposite of that which is characteristic of him. So, if a person was kind, he becomes hot-tempered and irritable, and if he was hot-tempered, he withdraws into himself.

Second stage- the stage of resistance and adaptation. At this stage, the body's resistance to the stimulus increases and the person makes decisions that allow him to cope with the situation that has arisen.

Third stage characterized by depletion of the nervous system. If exposure is prolonged, such as when a person develops chronic stress, their body becomes unable to withstand the factors that caused the disorder. A person develops a sense of guilt, anxiety may reoccur, but, in addition, chronic stress often becomes the cause of the development of somatic pathologies, up to severe pathological conditions.

Thus, all phases of stress are interconnected and when the question arises of how to relieve stress, it is necessary to understand at what stage a person is at a certain point in time. It is important to remember that the consequences of stress can be both minor and very severe, therefore, the earlier the patient starts taking stress pills, the less the consequences of this disorder.

Causes of stress

Each person in his life is faced with many negative factors. The causes of stress are so numerous that it is not possible to list them all. Nevertheless, scientists were able to establish the main causes of stress, or rather, the factors that affect almost any individual.

So, the main negative factors that can cause psychoemotional disorder and even chronic stress include:

• serious illness;
• illness or death of close relatives;
• parting with loved ones, including divorce;
• attack or emergency;
• deterioration of the financial situation;
• birth of a child;
• moving to another country (or even just changing your place of residence);
• sexual problems;
• job change;
• retirement;
• the emergence of problems with the law, etc.

It is very common for women to develop stress during pregnancy, as her body and psyche undergo significant changes.

It must be said that such a disorder tends to accumulate, that is, with prolonged exposure, it is aggravated. For example, stress during pregnancy can increase over time and, at the time of the baby's birth, the usual disorder becomes severe or. If stress occurs during pregnancy, a woman needs to tell her supervising gynecologist about her symptoms so that he can prescribe her medications that can be taken without risk to the fetus.

Symptoms

If we talk about the symptoms of stress, then for each person they can be different - it all depends on the state of the psyche of the individual, the stage of the process, as well as the strength of the negative impact.

Physical symptoms of stress are few and far between - they can manifest as weight loss due to malnutrition, persistent fatigue due to insomnia, irritability, or vice versa.

More pronounced are the psychological symptoms of stress, which include:

• feeling of inner tension;
• unreasonable anxiety;
• stress urinary incontinence;
• feeling of constant dissatisfaction;
• depression and bad mood;
• a feeling of the ghostly world around;
• decreased interest in ordinary activities, etc.

About how to relieve stress in the event of symptoms, you should talk with a psychotherapist at the initial stage of the disease and with a psychiatrist when the disorder progresses. The consequences of stress can be extremely severe, so treatment should be started at the time when the first signs of stress appear.

Sometimes people try to numb the symptoms of stress on their own by using alcohol, drugs, or becoming a gambler. All these external influences can significantly aggravate the disorder and ruin the patient's life.

Signs, as already mentioned above, can be pronounced and implicit, therefore, relatives should carefully monitor the behavior and reactions of the patient in order to seek help from a specialist in time.

Separately, it should be said about such a symptom as stress urinary incontinence. It can occur in young and adult women and is characterized by physical activity, sneezing, etc. Most often, stress urinary incontinence occurs in women during pregnancy and after childbirth. During pregnancy, stress urinary incontinence develops when the fetus presses on the bladder, and after childbirth, it occurs due to weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. Therefore, in cases where a woman experiences stress during pregnancy, this disorder is aggravated, and stress urinary incontinence becomes a frequent symptom of a pathological disorder. In general, stress during pregnancy itself can lead to premature birth and miscarriages.

It is also important to remember that stress urinary incontinence occurs in children against the background of exposure to adverse factors and is an important sign that a child is experiencing psycho-emotional overload.

Treatment

Most important question that people ask doctors - how to relieve stress? They are interested in stress prevention and stress management. If a person has PTSD, it is very important to seek help from good specialist, in other cases, you can try to drink stress pills on your own, which today can be purchased without a prescription (in the case of unexpressed clinical manifestations).

Stress management methods can be medical or non-medical. A person can independently practice relaxation techniques and conduct auto-training. Stress prevention lies in the ability to relax.

At the same time, in medical practice, there are many techniques for dealing with this disorder, thanks to which the effects of stress become imperceptible for a person. Without appropriate therapy ( psychological counseling and taking medications prescribed by a doctor) the consequences of stress can be extremely difficult for the body, up to the development of such somatic diseases as oncology, etc.

Stress prevention is about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, the correct alternation of rest and wakefulness. Quitting alcohol, drugs, tobacco and other bad habits also increases the body's resistance to external influences. A positive attitude makes it possible to "disarm" stress at the initial stage.

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